Here are some uptown restaurants I remember in the 60's and early 70's.

The Red Barn on @ NW 4th and N Hudson.
Priddy's on NW 11th and N Hudson. Later it became Martin's.
Johnny's Topper Burger in NW 12 and N Hudson.
The Seiber Hotel at NW 12 and N Hudson.
Mabel's at NW 11 and N Harvey.
Wells Fargo on @ NW 6th or 7th and N Hudson.
The Plaza Grill on NW 10th and N Walker.

Does anyone remember Cherry's? They were converted trolley cars.
There were about 8 in the city. Seated about 8 to 10 people

Marsha's which became Marsha's Sister which became Marsha's
which is now Nic's.

Is Nic's now located, in the same roadside cube, where the other [forgotten name] Breakfast Go-To (other than The Hungry Frog, a bit to the north and west) used to be?

I hope so, because whatever the name on the place was it was good and I hope it prospers forever.

Is Nic's now located, in the same roadside cube, where the other
[forgotten name] Breakfast Go-To (other than The Hungry Frog, a bit to
the north and west) used to be?

I hope so, because whatever the name on the place was it was good and
I hope it prospers forever.
Oui, monsieur. (sp) C'est où il est.

Oui, monsieur. (sp) C'est où il est.

Be that as it may . . . Quid est quod factum est. ?de veras? non? =)
(translation: [be that as it may] . . . It IS What It Wuz. No Joke? Really? =)

Be that as it may . . . Quid est quod factum est. ?de veras? non? =)
(translation: [be that as it may] . . . It IS What It Wuz. No Joke? Really? =)
It doesn't matter. It's in the same place whether we speak Latin or French.

Ah, but it's all Greek to me. [sorry, I just couldn't resist]

Is Nic's now located, in the same roadside cube, where the other [forgotten name] Breakfast Go-To (other than The Hungry Frog, a bit to the north and west) used to be?

I hope so, because whatever the name on the place was it was good and I hope it prospers forever.

That reminds me - is The Hungry Frog one of the 25+ year places or are they newer than that? I worked at their other restaurant (Cornucopia on 63rd/Expwy-ish) from 1978-1982 and I believe the Frog was around before the Cornucopia.

well, apparently it's where they store the spirits.

Spirits, beer, ice, glasses, a pool table, tables and chairs... ...yep, they store all of those things down there.

There is something to be said for a well organized storage area. :)

I stopped in there once, after the changeover from semi-fine dining to "Gentlemen's' Club" . . .
It was in the middle of the afternoon, I was just passing by, hadn't been in there for a couple of years, wanted to take a look at the interior with which we had taken so many pains.

The small collection of staff and management sitting around in there reminded me somehow of the "cream of the crop of local society" that I had encountered, previously, at places such as Tricky Dick's, Bosco's and a couple of dumps out there on NW 10th St. I couldn't figure out where the "Gentlemen" part came into the picture. I think I stayed long enough to have one beer (and didn't spring for a bottle of champagne for any of the "ladies" who asked)

Thankfully, they hadn't felt the need--at least at that point in time--to do a "makeover" of the rustic, authentic, wall treatments

That reminds me - is The Hungry Frog one of the 25+ year places or are
they newer than that?
The sign says since 1976, I think. I've never eaten there.

Come to think of it, "Someplace Else" on Western just south of NW 23 has been operating since 1976, also, so qualifies for the 25+ year list...

Prunepicker,
It is/was a nice clean little diner. I've had breakfast there several times and lunch a couple of times. I'm sure they've been around at least 25 years.
C. T.
The sign says since 1976, I think. I've never eaten there.

Jim,
Never been disappointed when I went there. Not a great place, just really good subs/hoagies and other sandwiches. I remember a pretty good hot pastrami and swiss on rye.
C. T.
Come to think of it, "Someplace Else" on Western just south of NW 23 has been operating since 1976, also, so qualifies for the 25+ year list...

Jim,
Never been disappointed when I went there. Not a great place, just really good subs/hoagies and other sandwiches. I remember a pretty good hot pastrami and swiss on rye.
C. T.Peggy, the tall blonde who owns the place with her husband (he's the baker for all the goodies and the bread) was working with my wife at the Crum & Forster claims office in the American Fidelity building, when she left to start the deli. We drop in every month or so for the corned beef and provolone on rye, plus one of their snickerdoodles. Most all her coworkers (at least those who are still mobile) go there regularly.

Knock it off, youse guys . . . =)

It is probably, in fact, almost certainly, impossible to recapture, with appropriate detail, The Past with Exhibitions of Excellence on a Virtual Viewscreen in The Present. well . .. ain't it? . . . =)

(as far as I'm concerned . . . i'm thinkin' a trip to The Downtown Arts Festival and maybe Vast for the viewpoint is in order. perhaps even a couple of trips . . . including a couple of other museums to be sure of "the facts") =)

Remember Woodstock, the Bar and Grill on N May? Loved the place for the music and wine. Food was decent for what it was. Hated when they closed in 1994.

Remember Woodstock, the Bar and Grill on N May? Loved the place for the music and wine. Food was decent for what it was. Hated when they closed in 1994.

Was that in the old Kip's Big Boy building?

Why is it that, with certain notable exceptions, the finest dining experiences are no longer available?
(for the texting public?)

(e.g.: Shipman's Café [on Robinson toward the south] one of the best, ever. Endless "biscuits" and chicken.)

I only ate at Shipman's on Robinson once; it had to be sometime around 1980. I do remember the fine biscuits as if it was yesterday.

How in the world can a restaurant like that not last forever? Seriously.
(well . . . we're off to another Old and Classic Restaurant (Ingrid's) that's still hangin' in there . . . =)

Was that in the old Kip's Big Boy building?

I don't know if it's the Kip's building.

We did a "drive-by" of what used to be Colonel Drake's #2 today. Apparently, the old tower (a replica of the first oil well drilled in Pennsylvania)--representing a landmark in 'Oilie' history, locally-- has been removed from the building. And a lot of the imported Cottonwood siding is falling off the exterior façade. The food inside is probably just as bad as the cover at this point in history. =)

Now the place looks like a bad haircut on a Saturday Night with no place to go.

Time for a musical interlude to remind us of important stuff.
Like going to a restaurant with this on the tableside jukebox interface.
That only required a nickel to play.
NS2k43NJycE

Speaking of which, those tableside jukeboxes were a lot of fun. I always liked hearing a song that "I" picked out and paid for being played for everyone.

Speaking of which, those tableside jukeboxes were a lot of fun. I always liked hearing a song that "I" picked out and paid for being played for everyone.

Which is Exactly Correct and As It Should Be . . . (ain't it?) . . . =)
(as long as the rest of the diners like your selection.)

Does it strike you as odd that Dean Martin somehow morphed into Jerry Lewis' straight man?
(Dean was a good crooner . . . Nearly up to the level of Bing Crosby . . . Jerry was a goofball) (imho)

Sorry . . . Off topic . . . This thread is about Old Restaurants. =)

Well, Bing Crosby also served well as one of Bob Hope's straight men, so it wasn't unique for Dino...

Now back to topic.

I always thought Dean Martin was the epitome of "cool" when I was a kid. If he had an old restaurant, I would have gone there.
It would have been extra nice if his restaurant was showing reruns of those old Matt Helm movies on the big screen TVs.

Am I correct, didn't Nicolosi's on tenth (after they moved from May to between Ann Arbor and Perdue) have the jukebox controls on the tables? (back on topic)

Does anyone remember the Fox and the Horn? How about Twitty Burger. Anyone from South OKC (and old enough) should remember. I believe the Fox and Horn was the only nice steak house on the South side. Twitty burgers was a franchise started by Conway Twitty. I thought it was good but it wasn't around very long.
C. T.

Does anyone remember the Fox and the Horn? How about Twitty Burger. Anyone from South OKC (and old enough) should remember. I believe the Fox and Horn was the only nice steak house on the South side. Twitty burgers was a franchise started by Conway Twitty. I thought it was good but it wasn't around very long.
C. T.

Yes, the Fox and Horn was a very nice restaurant south of 59th on the west side of Western. I ate there quite a few times and always liked it. I did try Conway's place a couple of times but it wasn't often. While it wasn't a steak house, there was another place in the same area that I always liked call Peaches. There was also a Steak and Ale on I240.

7680

Ljbab,
When did the Steak and Ale open? I don't remember it but I left South OKC in 1975. I don't remember Peaches either.
C. T.
There was also a Steak and Ale on I240.

Oh man, I loved Peaches! I always thought Steak and Ale had the best salad bar.

Does anyone know the name of the steak house that was on the SW corner
of NW 122nd and N May? @1981 Now it's a bank.

this was probably mentioned very early on in the thread but of all the restaurants I miss...Molly Murphy's ranks up there pretty high. It was just fun to go to and I don't think it would be possible to recreate the vibe now without it being ultra cheesy.

Ljbab,
When did the Steak and Ale open? I don't remember it but I left South OKC in 1975. I don't remember Peaches either.
C. T.

Not sure when it opened exactly but it was there in 1978, me and wifeypoo ate dinner there the day we were married.

this was probably mentioned very early on in the thread but of all the restaurants I miss...Molly Murphy's ranks up there pretty high. It was just fun to go to and I don't think it would be possible to recreate the vibe now without it being ultra cheesy.

I was a fan of Mollys in Tulsa. It was cheesy even then. Fortunately, I likes cheesey.

BlackmoreRulz,
My wife and I ate at the Steak and Ale on NW 39th Expressway when we lived South, so I think it must have opened between 1975 and 1978.
C. T.
Not sure when it opened exactly but it was there in 1978, me and wifeypoo ate dinner there the day we were married.

this was probably mentioned very early on in the thread but of all the restaurants I miss...Molly Murphy's ranks up there pretty high. It was just fun to go to and I don't think it would be possible to recreate the vibe now without it being ultra cheesy.

You're right. Molly Murphy's truly was a product of its time.

Ljbab,
When did the Steak and Ale open? I don't remember it but I left South OKC in 1975. I don't remember Peaches either.
C. T.
This article is from January, 1980.

7695

My God Shotgun Sams used to have wonderful pizza. I wish someone would open using the same recipe.
I read that they are reopening a Shotgun Sams in Tulsa. It opened a few days ago.

Thank you for posting the menu, I haven't seen that in a while. Is that an Alka Seltzer costume?

Had a great steak there once with the LOML.

Anyone remember Cattle Rustlers a couple of miles south of there? Ate 6 steaks one time when the whole crew went with the sole purpose of an eating contest. Loved their sourdough bread.

I remember eating there. They had a location on 39th street too, West of Portland. I think the one on i35 was by Cattle Rustlers Inn. The restaurant is gone, but the inn is still there.

I think if it were opened now it would resemble something like Dick's Last Resort with characters. I worked there a long time and while I still think Molly's has a place in OKC it would have to be done right. People remember how much fun it was back in the day but not how bad it had gotten when it closed.

been meaning to try this place for a bit of molly's nostalgia: Magic Time Machine (http://www.magictimemachine.com/) -M

A lot of people say that that was the original inspiration for Molly's. I don't know if it is true or not.

I remember a place in the 80's that had a Renaissance theme. It was in
Dallas. There was jousting, too! I never went. The excitement and
cuisine in Arlington was too much to pass up (Ranger baseball).

Medieval Times!

been meaning to try this place for a bit of molly's nostalgia: Magic Time Machine (http://www.magictimemachine.com/) -M

A lot of people say that that was the original inspiration for Molly's. I don't know if it is true or not.
It was, the architect who did it and TaMolly's made many trips to Dallas, Austin and San Antonio to get the theme and style down. They did make some changes to the Molly's design so it was not an exact copy but it was definitely the inspiration. The Austin location closed right around the time I moved there in 2003, I think the Dallas and San Antonio locations are still open.


I remember a place in the 80's that had a Renaissance theme. It was in Dallas. There was jousting, too! I never went. The excitement and cuisine in Arlington was too much to pass up (Ranger baseball).

Medieval Times!
It is still open in Dallas.
{url=http://www.medievaltimes.com/dallas.aspx]Medieval Times - Dallas[/url]

Prow lounge was before my time, however, I know Elmer's well. He is still around, by the way.

Does anyone remember a place called Beauty's Cafe? I remember eating there, however, for the life of me, cant remember was it was.

Biznesschic,
We seem to be about the same age, I went to the Prow Lounge often in the late 60's. As for Elmer's, my mother, freshly divorced, was a waitress there. You might enjoy my pictures. In the first picture she is the sixth from the right and in the second she is the sixth from the left.
C. T.84378438
Prow lounge was before my time, however, I know Elmer's well. He is still around, by the way.

On Classen there's an old church that's apparently in the news right now because it's been declared a public nuisance. Back in the early 70's (maybe) there was a church, likely the same one, that had a new innovation in OKC dining - the salad bar! Please help us remember the name. Thanks.

Might have been an Episcopal church before it was a steakhouse and, later, The Bowery.

That was my thought but they tore that church down several years ago and it is an empty lot now. Was across from the 7/11. Not sure how it would be a public nuisance now.
Might have been an Episcopal church before it was a steakhouse and, later, The Bowery.

Wasn't it some type of Pre-New-Age-Gathering Point for Cutting Edge Ravers or Whatever a couple of decades back?
Back when being a "Goth" was popular?
Before they realized the importance of side air bags and not texting in traffic? =)

Wasn't it some type of Pre-New-Age-Gathering Point for Cutting Edge Ravers or Whatever a couple of decades back?
Back when being a "Goth" was popular?
Before they realized the importance of side air bags and not texting in traffic? =)

When I was dancing there, texting hadn't been invented yet, and my cars didn't have air bags...

I believe you're talking about Napoleans nite club (circe 1975)

Wasn't it some type of Pre-New-Age-Gathering Point for Cutting Edge Ravers or Whatever a couple of decades back?
Back when being a "Goth" was popular?
Before they realized the importance of side air bags and not texting in traffic? =)

It was several clubs throughout the years but is an empty lot now so as someone stated I don't know what church they would currently be talking about.
but the one that is now gone was called Inertia at one point and pandamonium I believe then later in life it re-opened in 2000 on New years even as Club Infinity. But Many Many Moons ago was a Gay bar called the Free Spirit.

I was on the crew that renovated the tower behind the gold dome, and ate at Someplace Else regularly. Decent food, but not great.

That was my thought but they tore that church down several years ago and it is an empty lot now. Was across from the 7/11. Not sure how it would be a public nuisance now. A balcony collapsed and hurt several people. Don't remember the year, but probably late 90s or early 2000s.

There was a restaurant in what would be the same parking lot as Outback on NW exp. It would have been just south and slightly east of the current Outback. I ate there a few times, but cannot remember the name. This would have been late 70s or early 80s. I think it was the same building as My Pi(Pie) pizza. It was a decent restaurant had lots of plants and posters and interesting things on the walls.